Regarding Peeps in the region - I would call to your attention that Poplar
Island had the following numbers of Dunlin:

		Feb 18		299
		March 3		432
		March 10		165
		March 21		 63

The March 21 report from Poplar Island included one Sanderling and no other
Peeps.
The March 03 report from Poplar Island included 26 Sanderlings and no other
Peeps.

How far was the viewing point from Poplar Island?  Looks to me as if the
distance would be about 16 miles (as the Dunlin flies).

Perhaps there are other islands in the Chesapeake Bay that also held Dunlin
during the past several months.  The Poplar Island reports for March show
their Dunlin to have been moving on out.

Les Roslund
Talbot County
Easton MD 21601


-----Original Message-----
From: Maryland Birds & Birding [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On
Behalf Of Jeff Shenot
Sent: Wednesday, March 26, 2008 9:38 AM
To: 
Subject: Re: [MDOSPREY] Jug Bay / Peep info


Glad to see another post from Jug Bay!

I was out just as Dan left (5-6:00), but did not see anyone there (I always 
look to see if anyone is on the JBWS deck).  I was viewing the same area,
but 
from the PG side (Mt Calvert), and saw most of the same birds you reported.

A notable miss was the Bonie flock, which must have moved before I arrived.

I wonder if you saw the group which Fred S reportred (14) from Schoolhouse 
Pond, which he sugggested may have been heading toward Jug Bay (around 
mid day)?  The only noteworthy additions I should add to your posted list 
were a single Great Egret (came in late), 7-8 Red-B Mergansers (1 female 
looked more like a Common with molting issues), and ~12 Wood Ducks.

My guess is that you saw a flock of W. Snipe but did not get a good enough 
look at them.  There have been a large number of snipe moving through here 
for the last two weeks.  I have been fooled several times into thinking what

passed very quickly through my scope view was something else (peep), and 
when I zeroed in on the subject it turned out to be (another) snipe.

If you are certain they were not snipe, then I agree with Matt.  However, it

seems extremely early, even if there are reports from the eastern shore -
the 
eastern shore normally gets shorebirds much earlier than the western shore
of 
the coastal plain.  I normally haven't seen any peeps here before the end of

April, (my early date is 4-25) although my records are not as long as Danny
or 
Greg, I have been watching here about ten years now.

No Dunlins over wintered here this winter (did we have a winter?), the last
I 
saw them here was in late December.  There may have been some over winter 
further down in Charles or St. Marys County.  Dunlin and Black-bellied
Plover 
are occasionally seen here in fall, with Dunlin being far more likely to be
seen 
here in a flock, and tending to stay much longer.  I can't remember ever 
seeing either of them here in Spring but I'd bet someone has.  Sanderling
are 
exceptionally rare here, anytime.  I have never seen one here but Danny B or

Greg K may have.  Pectoral and Least Sandpipers are the most likely flocking

peeps to be seen here, and both could be seen passing thru in fall or
spring!

Cheers-
Jeff Shenot
Croom MD


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